Apparatus for improving and increasing the useful results obtainable from gasoline or other fuel in internal-combustion engines and the like



July 29, 1924. 1,502,772

F. GRINHAM APPARATUS FOR 'lMPROVING'AND INCREASING THE USEFUL RESULTS OBTAINABLE FROM GASOLINE OR OTHER FUEL IN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES AND THE LIKE Filed March '7. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet. l

4 I I [ma/em am July .29 V1924. 1,502,772

F. GRINHAM APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING AND INCREASING THE USEFUL RESULTS OBTAINABLE FROM GASOLINE OR OTHER FUEL IN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES AND THE LIKE Filed March '7. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dayan/for:

i at any other suitable point; (2)

Patented July 29, 1924.

UNITED: STATES P -1,502,772 A'TENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK GRINHAM, OF'ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR. OF ONE-THIRD TO OLIVER 1T: SAVIN ONE-SIXTH 'IO JOHNS. STILES,

ALL OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

- AIPARATUS FOR IMPROVING ANDINGREASING THE USEFUL RESULTS OBTAINABLE FROM GASOLINE OR OTHERFUEL IN INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES AND THE LIKE.

This invention consists of apparatus for deriving larger results from the fuel used in internal-combustionengines and the like. The said object is attained in two ways: 15 (1) By extracting partjof the products of combustion from the exhaust manifold by means of a by-pass, .eut-off, pipe, valve, or

other suitable means and feeding the same into the intake manifold or into the engine artor the whole of the residue of the sai products of combustion is suitably caught, and'may be bottled or otherwise preserved in suitable receptacles or reservoirs, whereupon it is later used for various useful purposes. The capture or taking of the products of combustion out of the exhaust must be. accomplishedin such a way as not to choke the engine. Ifdesired, all of' the products of combustion may be. taken without extracting part for refeeding to the same engins. v

By the first means above stated, the valuable original fuel that is held in a waste condition in the products of combustion is reused until ultimately consumed. It is well known that such wasted fuel amounts prior to thisinvention to about sixty per cent (60%) of the fuel used. All-this can be 0 saved. Moreover, it has been found by actual trial with a motor-vehicle that the mileage obtained with a given quantity of gasoline is quadrupled when this invention is used as compared to when it is not, other I conditions being the same. Furthermore, it

has been observed in actual practice .when this invention is used that grease upon a spark-plug is immediately removed when this invention is put into use, contrary to .the condition when this invention is not in use, and that the said cleansed condition continues while the use of this "invention is maintained. This is due in part to the heat Application filed March 7, 1921. Serial No. 450,284.

contained in the products of combustion when extracted from the exhaust manifold or other suitable point in the engine-andfed into the intake manifold or other suit- By the second means above stated, a valu able chemic'al or compound is saved from wasting into the atmosphere a (1 being there lost, and the said chemical or compound is thus saved, and, on trial, has been found adapted for various useful purposes, notall of which are yet known, but among which may be mentioned thefollowing: (1) It can be and has been used for light,.like -ordinary illuminating gas, flaming from an ordinary gas jet or burner, and .in such use may be used, as an example, to light a shop in which the'engine is located that produced it. (2) When held in a proper receptacle, a suitable reagent may be used, thereby causing. such a separation into constituent elements as allows the drawing off of that part which, when introduced into the in- AND ONE-SIXTH TO HUGH KIWAGNER,"

take-manifold of an internal-combustion purposes that is herein contemplated, in

icontradistinction to the waste thereof which ing theproducts of combustion and a pipe and burner or gas-jet; and

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate modifications relative to the valve connections.

Referring to Figure 1, pi e 1 leads from exhaust n1anifold2 to inta e manifold 3,

gas-

and therethrough are conducted the abovepractical use and not in mechanical details,

' ated.

although the drawings illustrate an arrangement of mechanism that in practlce has been satisfactorily and successfully oper- Referring to Figure 2, pipe 1 in function and leads from the exhaust 8 to a reservoir 9, where the products of combustion are stored like gas (for instance, ordinary illuminatin gas), and emitted through pipe 10 and burner 11,

which may be an ordinary gas-jet, such emission being controlled by cock 12. Any

suitable valve, such, for instance, as an ordinary ball check-valve 13 controls the passage of the gas through pipe 7. The pulsations ofthe engine force the gas past valve 13, and the gas is then stored in tank 9. Any suitable valve may be used for valve 4 in pipe 1, the one shown being of the needle type.

While hereinabove reference has been made rather specifically to the exhaust manifold and to the intake manifold, yet it is to be understood that bythis term is to be included any part of the exhaust or even of the engine whence the products of combustion can be derived. These remarks apply, also, to Figures 3 and 4, in which the same general application of the terms intake 14 and exhaust 15 is to be understood.

As other illustrative mechanical means for carrying out this invention, F igures3 and 4 show examples of suitable valves 16 and 17, but other forms of valves besides these and those shown in Figures 1 and 2 may be used.

pipe 7 resembles sults in reciprocation of the stem 29 of valve 27, with the result that pipe 26 is alternately opened and closed. Diaphragm 28 is inclosed within casing 30, which communicates by means of pipe 31 to intake 14.

The products of combustion may be conducted to the intake of the engine whence they came or to that of another or to an independent reservoir.

Having thus described this invention, I hereby reserve the benefit of all changes in form, arran ement, order, or use of parts, as it is evi ent that many minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, an intake manifold, an exhaust manifold, means affording communication between the intake and exhaust manifolds, a needle valve controlling the passage of fluid through said means, and means controlled by andy communicating with the intake manifold for closing communication between said manifolds upon increase of pressure in the intake manifold.

2. In combination, an intake manifold, an exhaust manifold, a pipe extending from the intake manifold, a needle valve case screwed on the end of said pipe and provided with a laterally opening passage communicating with the pipe, a needle valve screwed in said casing and controllin the flow of fluid through said passage, a c amber secured to said needle valve casing and having communication with the pipe through the lateral opening, a valve in said chamber comprising a hollow cylinder closed at its bottom and open at-its top, said cylinder being provided intermediate its ends with an external groove and ports opening from the roove into the interior of the cylinder, sai cylinder being further slidable vertical in its casing, and a second pipe connecting the last mentioned casing w1 th the exhaust manifold, said cylinder being movable in its casing to bring the groove into and out of register with the opening in the last mentioned pipe.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

FREDERICK GRINHAM. 

